Ball game



April 23, 1963 c. M. MAURER BALL GAME 4 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Jan. 6, 1961 m 1 a m a (or/ Max Maura M' mfmz will";

April 23, 1963 c. M. MAURER BALL GAME 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 6, 1961 INVENTOR Carl Max Mal/"er April 23, 1963 c. M. MAURER BALL GAME 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 6, 1961 Karl Max MCZUPGF BY j 4W} W gTTORN J April 23, 1963 c. M. MAURER 3,086,778

BALL GAME Filed Jan. 6, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Carl Max IV/aumr its tats This invention relates to a game involving the movement of objects and, in particular, is directed to a miniature table soccer game.

Heretofore games of this type were often constructed as so-called magnetic games. Here the game board containing the playing field was made of a material which directed lines of magnetic force. Small steel bands or even permanent magnets were attached to the bases of player figures and beneath the game board permanent magnets were moved either manually or by some kind of a mechanical movement, as, for example, by lazy tongs. As soon as the permanent magnet came into the range of the magnetic field of the base of the player figure, the figure was attracted by the magnet. Thus the figure could be moved at random on the game board and in so moving was able to push or shove the soccer ball at any given time by means of having the figure strike the ball.

The object of this invention is to produce another means not using magnetic control of the player figures in order to play the game.

In this invention, the player figures themselves constitute the striking forces for moving the ball. The figures are fixed at random on the surface of the game board or else in certain predetermined positions. Each figure is bendable in any positon for the purpose of striking the ball.

According to this invention, the player figures are flexible in and of themselves and particularly at least in the lower foot portions thereof. In one form of the invention, the base simulating the foot of the player figure is constructed as the striking member and is composed of rubber or a suitable resilient plastic in the form of a plug, the free end of which is fitted snugly into an opening in the playing surface of the game board. When the player figure is bent from its vertical position and then released, the enlarged part of the plug swings back to vertical position and constitutes the member for striking a ball lying in a depression in front of the base of the figure.

The construction of this invention offers more inducement to playing than the heretofore magnetic games in that the striking of the ball is no longer dependent upon the movirn of any particular playing figure which required more or less a great deal of skill and corresponding patience on the part of the person playing the game. The uncertainty of selecting a particular figure to be moved does not exist in this invention. Moreover, it is advantageous if the playing surface of the game board is not smooth but rather is slightly hilly so that the struck ball always rolls of its own accord into some depression. The plug end of the striking member can be of circular cross-section. Therefore the holes in the surface of the game board can be easily formed by drilling and the like. However, the cross-sectional area of the plug can be polygonal. When the game is not being used, the individual player figures are pulled from their holes and can be placed in a suitable side compartment of the playing surface or even in a compartment in the frame of the game board. The ready removal of the figures has an important advantage in that the height of the game board case can be materially reduced, which lessens the cost of making the case. Again, the space required for storage or transport of the case from factory to purchaser is 13,86,778 Patented Apr. 23, 1963 reduced many times. For example, the height of the case can be reduced from 65 mm. to 25 mm. Thus the storage and transporting space required is at least more than halved.

The easy removal of the individual figures from the game board has another advantage in that different figures can be used for different ball games or object striking games. Consequently, the range of thet use of the basic design of the game is greatly extended, even to, for example, the playing of dominoes or the like.

Another way of sturdily fastening the player figures to the playing surface of the game board is by using a suction cup for the base portion of the player figure. Althorugh suction cups are commonly known and used, for example, with the short arrows of childrens guns, however, the suction cups of the instant invention have an entirely different function. In this invention, the elasticity of the body of the suction cup, as well as the elasticity of the vacuum cushion within the suction cup, provides a force, together with the atmospheric pressure on the outside of the cup, whenever the player figures are bent from the vertical and then released. The suction cup can be connected to the player figure by means of an enlarged neck so that this neck can act as the striking member whenever the figure is manipulated.

The playing surface of the game board is formed with circular concave depressions at predetermined plawer positions for the purpose of receiving the suction cups. These depressions can be made at the same time the playing surface is made and thereby saving one step in the fabrication of the board. However, such depressions are not absolutely necessary, and it would sufiice to press the suction cup down on the playing surface at any desired position. With suction cups, the ball catching depressions can be eliminated. In this event, it is suificient to have some protuberance mounted on the base of the actual player figure or else have a lever which just about reaches to the surface of the game board.

In a modified form of the invention, the player figure is constructed as a hollow body. The body is then either filled with air or is joined to the suction cup so as to communicate with the interior of the cup. The player figure itself then supplements the ball striking action of the figure.

A further form of the invention, when using a suction cup, lies in making the diameter of the depression in the surface of the game board smaller than the diameter of the lower edge of the suction cup. These diameters are so dimensioned that the skirt of the suction cup lies in the depression with the free edge of the cup flush with the upper surface of the game board. The portion of the cup lying in the depression thus forms a part of the recess for receiving the ball. The shape of the ball receiving recess therefor depends upon the shape of the wall of the suction cup. A further feature of the invention exists in the manner in which the player figures can be removed and one kind of a figure substituted for another, as for example substituting soccer player figures for baseball player figures. The basic design of the game board remains unchanged. This eliminates the disadvantage of having but one set of figures for a game board and reduces the expense of having to provide additional space for storing various figures. In this invention, the player figures and their base portions are joined in a detachable manner, preferably by means of a press fit with one another.

To this end, the upper end of the suction cup has a cylindrical opening for receiving the base of the player figure. The base portion of the player figure can have a flange of greater diameter than the bore hole so that, when inserted into the elastic suction cup, the player figure is solidly held, even when bent way over. The free end of the base of the player figure can be tapered in order to facilitate insertion into the suction cup.

The means by which these and other objects of the invention are obtained are described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

' FIGURE Us a plan view ofthe game board;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view through a portion of the game board showing a player figure inserted in the game board;

FIGURE 3 is a modification of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a front view partially shown in section of the base portion of a player figure having a suction p;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the suction cup applied to the game board;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the player figure bent to ball striking position;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view through the game board showing the depression covered over by a plate;

FIGURE 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the attachment of a player figure to a suction cup;

FIGURE 9 is a modified form of the player figure shown in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the player figure of FIGURE 8 inserted into the suction cup;

' FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of FIGURE 10 applied to a game board;

FIGURE 12 is a cross-sectional view of a modification of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 13 shows the player figure of FIGURE 12 fastened to the game board;

FIGURE 14 is a further modification of the attaching of the player figure to a game board;

FIGURE 15' is a further modification of FIGURE 14; and

FIGURE 16 is another modification of the structure of FIGURE 14. I

As shown in FIGURE 1, the game board 1 illustrates the playing field for a soccer game. The game board is pressed out of a thermoplastic moldable material. The playing field includes thepenalty area 2 and the goals 3 and 4 A number of holes 5 are formed in the game board at the positions where the player figures are to be located by being inserted in the holes. A ball catching concave recess or depression 6 is concentric with each hole 5. An enlarged striking member 7 is formed on the foot portion of the player figure 8. Extending downwardly from the'striking member 7 is a resilient plug 9 composed of rubber or the like which is snugly plugged into hole 5. The stem portion 9a of the plug 9 functions as a catapulting element whenever the player figure 8 is first bent away from the vertical and then released by one of the persons playing the game. Soccer ball 10 is thus tossed onto the playing field by the springing back of the player figure and rolls into the ball catching depression of another player figure or even into one of the goals 3 or 4. In order that the ball always rolls into one of the ball catching depressions 6, the playing field is constructed in a slightly hilly fashion, as indicated by the lines .11 in FIGURE 1.

In FIGURE 3, the game board has a double floor composed of the top fioor 12 and the lower floor 12a. In this embodiment, the cat-apulting plug 9 fits snugly in the aligned holes in the floors 12 and'1-2a, respectively. This construction is especially desirable if thin material is used for the game board and the plug 9 is to be snugly held without any special reinforcement of the game board adjacent the hole.

In FIGURE 4, the player figure 8' is provided with a suction cup 13 joined to the enlarged neck 7. As shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, the lower peripheral edge 13a of the suction cup is pressed into a circular concave recess 14 in the surface of the game board and rebent toward the surfaceof the board in order to set up the figure 8. If a proper ratio in the diameters of the lower edge 13a of the suction cup and the rim of the depression 14 is chosen, then an annular depression 15 results, with a portion of the wall of the suction cup abutting the surface of the depression and the edge 13a of the suction cup lying flush with the surface of the playing field. Depression 15 functions to receive ball 10. Whenever figure 8 is bent from its vertical position and then released, the suction cup, acting under the force produced by the vacuum Within it, or as the case may be, by the force of the atmospheric pressure Working on the outside surface of the skirt of the suction cup, then the figure in assuming its vertical position produces a total uniform distribution of pressure to cause the catapulting action on the ball lit. This action is further assisted by the conical shape of the suction cup, 'by the selection of suitable elastic material for the suction cup, and finally, by the elastic behavior of the neck portion 7. A conical form is not necessary for the shape of the suction cup; even a spherical or elliptical form can be used.

i The player'figure, together with the suction cup, can be made out of the same piece of material. On the other hand, the two can be made of dissimilar materials, so that the individual materials can have different plastic properties and adjusted one to the other. When the player figure is swung from the vertical, it can be bent in and of itself and, as a result of its elasticity, produces an additional catapulting efiect. Thus the player figure can be constructed as a hollow body and either filled with air, as in a ball, or can be connected to the suction cup through an opening. In the latter case, the player figure and the suction cup form a single vacuum space. When the player figure is placed on the game board, the figure itself is squeezed so that when the suction cup is placed upon the surface of the board, the air is evacuated from the figure as well as from the cup, and the overall vacuum is increased so that the figure is tightly held on the board. On the other hand, if the player figure is filled with air, it acts independently as a ball striking member.

As shown in FIGURE 7, the individual depressions 14 can be covered by means of a plate 17 when the depressions are not to be used. This permits the use or the board for different kinds of games. i i

In FIGURE 8, the suction cup 20 has an upper neck 22 containing a hole 24. The player figure 26 has a spherical foot portion 28 constituting the striking member for hitting, for example, a soccer ball. Depending from the striking member 28 is a plug 30, the lower edge of vwhich is surrounded by a flange 32, the diameter of the flange being slightly greater than the diameter of the hole 24 so that the plug can be fitted tightly within the elastic neck 22. Consequently, the figure is tightly held by' the suction cup so that no harm arises if the player figure is swung vigorously from its vertical positio In the modification of FIGURE 9, the flange 32a is located intermediate the length of the plug 30'. The free end portion 34 of the plug is tapered in order to facilitate the insertion of the plug into the neck 22.

When assembled, the player figure and plug are connected as shown in FIGURE 10.

In FIGURE 11, the suction cup is shown mounted in a depression in the game board 1. It is adapted to be swung out of the vertical, as indicated in dashed lines.

In FIGURES 12 and 13, the upper portion 40 of the suction cup 42 is of spherical shape and constitutes the striking member. Portion 40 contains a hole for receiving the inserted foot 44 of the player figure. This foot 44 is in the nature of a plug and has a flange 46 and a taperedfree end portion 48.

In FIGURE 14, the foot portion of the player figure 26 is shaped as a sphere 50. This sphere receives an elastic plug 52 which is inserted into the hole in the surface of the game board. The plug is of greater diameter than the hole into which it is inserted and consequently is provided with a circumferential groove 54 of the same diameter of the hole so that the edge of the hole is engaged in groove 54. The lower end 56 of the plug is tapered in order to facilitate insertion into the hole.

In FIGURE 15, the upper portion 60 of the plug 62 is of spherical shape and has a hole for receiving the foot of the player figure 26. Plug 62 is inserted in the hole in the game board in the same manner as in FIGURE 7.

In FIGURE 16, the player figure 70 has a rigid base portion 72. The hole at the bottom of the depression in the game board is made larger than the plug end 74 of the base portion 72. Secured to the game board is a resilient member 76 which has a hole 7 8 concentric with the hole in the game board. The plug end 74 has a peripheral groove 80 for receiving the edge of the hole in resilient member 76. Thus the member 76 provides the resiliency for swinging the figure 26 from the vertical and bringing the figure back to vertical position for striking the ball 10.

The player figure is rotatable in hole 80 so that player figures can be used as, for example, in a cricket game, inasmuch as in this game a bat for the ball is fastened to the hand of the player and this bat must be turned into its hitting position.

Having now described the means by which the objects of the invention are obtained, I claim:

1. In a game board having stationary player figures placed at predetermined positions on a play field, each figure being bendable for striking a ball, the improvement comprising a depression in the surface of said game board for each player figure position, a resilient and bendable suction cup pressed into said depression with the lower peripheral edge of the cup rebent and extendnig toward the surfiace of said game board, and each player figure being supported by the suction cup and manually tiltable from the vertical to distort said cup so that said cup and figure snap back to their original position upon manual release of said figure to catapult a ball from said cup.

2. In 'a game board as in claim 1, said suction cup merging with said player figure through a ball striking member.

3. In a game board as in claim 2, each player member further comprising a hollow body.

4. In a game board as in claim 3, further comprising an air passage between said suction cup and the interior of said hollow body.

5. In a game board as in claim 4, said player figure forming a supplemental striking member under the at mospheric air pressure.

6. In a game board as in claim 1, said suction cup having its lower peripheral edge flush with the surface of said play field.

7. In a game boa-rd as in claiml, the improvement further comprising a flanged plug fixed to the lower end of each figure, and a neck portion having a cylindrical hole on said suction cup for receiving said flanged plug.

8. In a game board as in claim 7, said suction cup and the foot portion of the player figure comprising a ball striking member.

9. In a game board as in claim 8, said neck portion having a spherical shape as the ball striking member.

'10. In a game board as in claim 7, said plug having a conical end portion beneath the flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,433,335 Bensch Oct. 24, 1922 1,645,702 Ischinger Oct. 18, 1927 2,048,944 Mun-r0 et a1. July 28, 1936 2,219,898 Hooker Oct. 29, 1940 2,484,343 Hawes Oct. 11, 1949 2,547,164 Lemke Apr. 3, 1951 2,621,441 Worden Dec. 16, 1952 2,698,179 Widegren et a1 Dec. 28, 1954 2,819,082 Peters Jan. 7, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 506,585 Great Britain May 25, 1939 556,801 Italy Feb. 9, 1957 823,019 Great Britain Nov. 4, 1959 

1. IN A GAME BOARD HAVING STATIONARY PLAYER FIGURES PLACED AT PREDETERMINED POSITIONS ON A PLAY FIELD, EACH FIGURE BEING BENDABLE FOR STRIKING A BALL, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A DEPRESSION IN THE SURFACE OF SAID GAME BOARD FOR EACH PLAYER FIGURE POSITION, A RESILIENT AND BENDABLE SUCTION CUP PRESSED INTO SAID DEPRESSION WITH THE LOWER PERIPHERAL EDGE OF THE CUP REBENT AND EXTENDING TOWARD 